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Everton kid Barkley always grateful to Moyes for support during leg break

Everton whizkid Ross Barkley says support from manager David Moyes during his triple leg break has convinced him about staying at Goodison Park.

The injury - sustained on duty with England U-19s - once left him fearing for his future.

"I was 16 and playing in a European Championship qualifier in Belgium," he said. "We'd played two games and had already qualified for the next phase so Jonjo Shelvey, Josh McEachran, Conor Wickham and I got asked if we wanted to play in the next game.

"They said we could sit on the bench, but we all wanted to play. I was running for the ball with Andre Wisdom and it was a freak accident. I knew straight away it was a bad one and I was gutted.

"I was taken to the hospital in Belgium and the doctor told me that I might not play again. I was terrified but then the England team doctor told me not to listen to him.

"He said that if it's a broken leg then I'd be OK and back playing within six months. He was nice and positive which is what I needed."

Barkley says a morale-boosting visit from Moyes helped keep him focused during his rehabilitation. Speaking in this month's edition of the Evertonian magazine, he said: "He was great, He came to my house and assured me and my family that the club would get men back fit and I'd soon be back in his plans.

"I'd been on the bench four times before then and I was gutted that I wouldn't be able to play before I turned 17.

"I've had other injuries. I was out for three months when I broke my foot at 15. I had a double hernia and was out for another three months so I had to be mentally tough before.

"It helped me to grow up. My mum did a lot of running around for me in the house. She was up and down the stairs for me all the time."